It's cool and looks like it was a lot of work, but they called cocktail umbrellas "girlie drink accessories" - what's up with that!!!??? _________________When you hurry through life, you just get to the end faster.
Pirate Ship Tree House

over the past several or so years i have seen various incarnations of umbrella lamps..some were swag lamps, others, table lamps....it's an idea that has been around for some time and executed by various artists...interesting shape choice on this one though...

It looks like the artist used a wire frame and started from the top, working his way down. If I were to build a structure of this size, I would likely wrap the frame of the shade's sides with a more sturdy lining and then cover with the drink umbrellas.
_________________"If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning."-Catherine Aird

I bet you could make an interesting shade by taking a pre-made lamp shade, poking holes in it, and gluing the umbrellas into the holes. You would have to measure out the holes to get even coverage and it wouldn't be free-form like that one, but I think it would turn out cool. And yes, I think they would eventually fade.
_________________When you hurry through life, you just get to the end faster.
Pirate Ship Tree House